Sign



July 22 1952 G. G. WAGONER 2,603,897

SIGN

Filed Oct. 10, 194'? lmventor.-

GLEN/v G. Wnqo/vER.-

Gttorneg.

Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED sfifirr1:sN .PATENT oFFicE SIGN i' Y cie-,ssi e. Wagoner, ingle-wma, one'. y -Appii'eiatio october 1o, 1947,` serial No. via-izo' This invention relates to signs.

The invention has for an kobject the provision of a sign made up of a series of transparent envelopes depending one from the other and adapted to enclose elongated cards having characters on both sides thereof, the envelopes being reversible as to position so that first one side of the cards is presented to View and then the other side.

A further object is to provide a structure carry ing sign elements, which sign elements are readily changedwith aminimum of effort and time.

A further object is to provide a reversible type sign which is so constructed as to be durable and inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and generally superior to signs of the reversible type now known to the inventor.

A further object is to provide a sign having a transparent envelope, ,which envelope is secured between end caps rin ra novel manner.

A further object is the provision of a sign which is attractive in appearance and may be used as a counter display sequentially advertising different commodities.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists'in the novel and useful provision, formation.- construction, associa-' tion, and relative arrangement of parts, i'nerni bers and features, all as shown in certain em bodiments in the accompanying vdrawing", described generally, and more particularlypointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:v

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view of a sign and its framing embodying the invention, f l

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of one of the sign elements of the invention,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View on the line 3&3 of Figure 1, Y

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail ofA certainelern'nts f the invention taken on the line 5--5 of Figure l, g g

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view looking in the direction of the arrow 6 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modied form of sign element.

Referring now with particularity to the drawing, I have shown in Figure 1 a cabinet I adapted to house a plurality of sign elements 2. The sign elements are of the type which may be relatively turned to the end that the appearance Y 'i claim. (01,310-'1-20)V .of the sign ischanged for the onlooker. The

sign elements are identical in construction, a1- though the means for connecting certain ones thereof to the cabinet may vary. Referring first to Figure 2, a sign elementincludes a tubular transparent envelope 3 which may assume any transverse -section desired, Whether it be oval in form as shown in Figurefl, or cylindrical as shown in Figure 3. Caps 4 and 5 are provided for the ends of each envelope. Thev caps conform to envelope section, that is to say, if the envelope shown at 3 is circular, the cap rim would be correspondinglyl circular. A Each cap includes an end wall 6 and a rim 1, which rim is provided with an annular inwardly facing bead 8. Ends of the envelope are tted within the cap rimsand abut against. the beads 8, as shown at 9. This construction `is followed for allof the sign elements.

Each sign element 21s interconnected with other sign elements in such a manner that a turning of one sign element will produce a simultaneous turning movement in the other sign elements. This is accomplished by providing a series of interconnecting cords for the sign elements.` The caps at the ends of the transparent envelopes are all interconnected in the same manner, and therefore the cord connection between the caps 5 for the different sign elements will be described. Cord III is connected to cap .5 at I I, and is passed around said cap and downwardly to where it interconnects cap 5` of sign element 2, shown at I2,- at the point I3. Cord I4 connects with cap 5 of the uppermost sign element at I5. the sign element 2, shown at I2, at I6. The next lower sign element 2. shown at I1, is interconnected with the sign element shown at I2 by cords I8 and I9, cord I8 being secured to the sign element shown at l2, at 20, and to the sign element shown at I1, at 2I, white cord I9 is connected to sign element shown at uI2`, at 22, and with the sign element shown at I1, at 23. This .procedure is -followed for the descending sign elements- The uppermost s i'gn element is adapted to be rocked or oscillated, and to accomplish this,v the caps 4 and 5 are both provided with axially aligned trunnions 24 .and '25. These trunnions are adapted to fit within bearing portions of the sidewalls 26 and 21 ofthe cabinet. For instance, in Figure 6, one side wall is provided with an entrance slot 28, which leads to the bearing portion 29 for one of the trunnions. It is intended that the upper and lowermost sign elements Cord I4 is then connectedto These guides are secured to the cabinet framing.

One of the trunnions of the uppermost sign" element carries a pinion 34. This pinion is engaged by the teeth of rack 35, the rack teeth being held in engagement with the pinionk by Ya keeper 36. One end of the rack is pinned at 31 to a disc 38, the disc in turn being mounted on a shaft 39, leading to a gear reduction unit 40. The gear 'reduction unil-1in turn, is driven byga small electric'motor 4 l. The gear reduction unit, motor, and associated elements are all mounted on the top Wall 42 of the cabinet. When the motoris energized,v the gear reduction unit is driven in the usual manner which, in turn, rotates shaft 39 at a reduced speed to turn disc 38 and cause reciprocation of the rack 35. Reciprocation of the rackpro'duces rotary oscillation of the uppermost sign element; which through the cord connections with the depending sign elements produces like rotary oscillation thereof.

.Each'transparentl envelope is adapted -to have diametrically positioned 'therein a sign element 43. The sign elements may take the form of elongated cards, upon whiclvnotations of some character may appear onA both :surfaces thereof. The sign elements may eitherbe held frictionally within the envelopes or may be positively held therein by means of channel guides 44 and 45 diametrica-lly positioned" Within the envelope. Such guides'mayfb'e formed of transparentmaterial,V which ,'is secured toV the transparent envelope in any manner, such as by a plastic glue,

or `by heat. 7 In'order to 'place-the cards in position, one end "capis removed vfromA each sign element anda card inserted within the envelope followed by replacingjthe end-cap.v

VThat formV of thev invention shown in Figure 7 does not differ in essential detail from the form shown in the other figures, ysave and except that thesign elements are oval in cross section. VWhen this construction is followedjguidessuch as depicted at 44 a'nd14, need not be used asthe inserted cards will maintain their position therein. In place oflc'ords, I- may use straps of small Width, such las shown at 46 for interconnecting theendcaps.

The cabinet I may A take any configuration desired, such as outlinediby the front wall 4l, the cabinet beingmounted upon a suitable baise Y48. There may be a rear door 49 to'permitac'cess within the cabinet.' 'I he cabinet is intended vto have illuminating means so that thesignlelemcntsare rendered visible at night. In the form of thevinvention depicted in Figure 1, thedevice may c'arrya'."y plug 5B to be received in any outlet box connected 'with' a source? of electric supply. TheV small'type of thed'evice Amayfbfe placed in Yvarious locationsgsuchas in a lobby, or on a counter; and when 'th'e-motor is energizedjthe .devicewur-operatetanquefurtherattentionfaces.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows:

The transparent envelope of each sign element may be ornamented on the surface thereof so as to form what may be termed a framing for any card placed therein. In Figure 1, the transparent envelope has such a framing, as shown at 5I. There is a similar framing for the transparent envelope for that form ofthe invention shown lin liguregfl.' Such a framing may be imprinted upon the "envelope 01""pz'ainted thereon. The

elongated cards for placement within the envelopes bear imprinting of some form on both sur- This is illustrated for one surface of each card invFigure 1. When the motor is energized, the sign elements are oscillated simultaneously rst in one direction and then the other. The sign elements are maintained in alignment due to the connection between the framing and the uppermost and lowermost sign elements by providing detachable caps for the transparent 'envelopes. .Access within vtheenvelopes iseach of accomplishment. mThe caps give rigidity to the envelopes and preferablythe caps are formed of metal. L

When a signofthe character of this invention is used for outdoor. *advertising purposes, the notationson.theicards-for insertion within the transparent envelopes may be light reilector'type buttons, with the result thatA as light strikes the buttonsythe charactersr thereon'will glow and produce 4quite ardazzling effect, particularly as the sign-elements areoscillated kto produce different signs. .f

ltv is within the purview, of the invention to change theV geometric form; of the transparent envelopes, Which may betriangular'in place of circular or ovoid, land when triangular, it is evident that-theoscillation of veach triangular element would be .in steps of .60 degrees. .In this manner, three' different signswould be presented t0 View'. in

In sign construction, .a cabinet, a plurality of transparentrenvelopes: adapted .to be suspended one below the other,-'endcaps for said envelopes; each Vendpcapformed. .with an-"internal bead adapted lto limit'cap engagement with an envelope, each envelope adapted to transversely carry therein1an elongated card bearing indiciaon both surfaces' thereof, vcords interconnecting the yend caps in such a manner that reversal of movement of the uppermost envelope produces like .reversal'of'movement ofl all other envelopes, the

torfy'vrrotation of.= one .of said trunnions.

v"Thefollowingreferences are 'of record 'in the le'of-this-patentz l N UNITED sTaTE's PATENTS f Number Namer'. Date- 1,081,722 C001( Dc'. 16,1913 1 1,744,852 .Vlilsonv Jia-11.28, 1930 #McCarty 2,360,789 Oct. 17', 19144 

